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Old 15-09-2017, 02:18   #31
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Re: Bilge Pump Running But Not Pumping

Had same problem. The pump hasn't run for weeks because of insufficient water in the bilge. I hit the float switch just to clear the whatever water that was there. Pump ran but no discharge. turned out check valve was stuck shuck. Valve was 10 + years old so time for replacement anyway. Something you never think of checking until a failure.
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Old 15-09-2017, 13:29   #32
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Re: Bilge Pump Running But Not Pumping

No one has mentioned the possibility of an air lock in the discharge hose. My boat has a similar problem that I haven't had a chance to look into, but I assume that I installed the hose badly. Perhaps there is a dip in the hose on the way to the overboard. Perhaps the anti-siphon loop isn't high enough? Going to do discovery soon, but I have assumed the problem is airlock.
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Old 15-09-2017, 13:39   #33
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Re: Bilge Pump Running But Not Pumping

Whoops, I see airlock has been mentioned. I'm just going to slink back to my lurking cave...
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Old 15-09-2017, 16:47   #34
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Re: Bilge Pump Running But Not Pumping

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Whoops, I see airlock has been mentioned. I'm just going to slink back to my lurking cave...
No slinking needed. Every input is appreciated.
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Old 15-09-2017, 17:05   #35
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Re: Bilge Pump Running But Not Pumping

I worked on one motorboat where the bilge pump had burned out. Replaced the pump, new one ran fine, but water not draining. Removed pump, tried it in a bucket with a short hose, pumped like gangbusters.

So, I got a waterhose from the dock, pushed the hose nozzle into the discharge hose's pump end, and gave a couple of shots of pressurized water. There was a PTOO! at the other end (transom) and the hose ran free. Re-installed new pump and it was fine.

So in this case, it seems the discharge hose got plugged by marine growth I believe, and that blockage burned out the original bilge pump.
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Old 15-09-2017, 18:05   #36
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Re: Bilge Pump Running But Not Pumping

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Originally Posted by Lake-Effect View Post
I worked on one motorboat where the bilge pump had burned out. Replaced the pump, new one ran fine, but water not draining. Removed pump, tried it in a bucket with a short hose, pumped like gangbusters.

So, I got a waterhose from the dock, pushed the hose nozzle into the discharge hose's pump end, and gave a couple of shots of pressurized water. There was a PTOO! at the other end (transom) and the hose ran free. Re-installed new pump and it was fine.

So in this case, it seems the discharge hose got plugged by marine growth I believe, and that blockage burned out the original bilge pump.
Wow, that's one I never thought of!
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Old 21-09-2017, 07:51   #37
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Re: Bilge Pump Running But Not Pumping

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I came back home from evacuating for Irma & my Whale Supersub was running but not pumping. I jerked on the hose & it started pumping. Any idea what would cause this?
I bought 2 of the Supersubs .
The first failed on automatic within three months . I had to put a manual switch in . The second failed completely within six months .
I also had the problem with pump running but no suction . Shaking the pipe made it run but I had to do it many times over the months . Could no longer trust them so changed for different make .
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Old 21-09-2017, 08:01   #38
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Re: Bilge Pump Running But Not Pumping

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I bought 2 of the Supersubs .
The first failed on automatic within three months . I had to put a manual switch in . The second failed completely within six months .
I also had the problem with pump running but no suction . Shaking the pipe made it run but I had to do it many times over the months . Could no longer trust them so changed for different make .
Thanks for the response. What pump did you change to & how's it worked out? This is also my second supersub. The motor on the first one locked up after about a year. It's great that they designed a pump that would fit a narrow bilge but only if it's reliable.
I've had a bunch of storm clean-up to do on top of getting caught up on work so haven't had a chance to mess with this but I'll get to it this weekend.
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Old 21-09-2017, 08:10   #39
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Re: Bilge Pump Running But Not Pumping

mine does this with cat fur.
oopsy
i had to change out my flapper switch once--about a week after purchase and install it quit oopsy..... the old mercury ones were so much more reliable (yes i still have one intstalled and functional )
donot place anti backflow valves/traps in line. they fail.
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Old 21-09-2017, 08:39   #40
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Re: Bilge Pump Running But Not Pumping

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Thanks for the response. What pump did you change to & how's it worked out? This is also my second supersub. The motor on the first one locked up after about a year. It's great that they designed a pump that would fit a narrow bilge but only if it's reliable.
I've had a bunch of storm clean-up to do on top of getting caught up on work so haven't had a chance to mess with this but I'll get to it this weekend.
I changed to cheap Rule copies from China for a third of the price .
They've been working for a year now with no worries at all . Much better with the built in mechanical float than the Supersub sensor.
As they where so cheap I installed two more as backup but I have to say these have not given me a moment's worry , unlike the Supersub .
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Old 21-09-2017, 08:50   #41
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Re: Bilge Pump Running But Not Pumping

No matter which submersible pump you choose, if you do a poor installation with traps in the line, don't expect it to work properly.
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Old 21-09-2017, 08:53   #42
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Re: Bilge Pump Running But Not Pumping

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Originally Posted by bustermaw View Post
I changed to cheap Rule copies from China for a third of the price .
They've been working for a year now with no worries at all . Much better with the built in mechanical float than the Supersub sensor.
As they where so cheap I installed two more as backup but I have to say these have not given me a moment's worry , unlike the Supersub .
Rule has a copy of the SuperSub that I might try next although I'm thinking that changing to a self priming diaphragm type pump is probably the best solution.
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Old 21-09-2017, 09:02   #43
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Re: Bilge Pump Running But Not Pumping

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Rule has a copy of the SuperSub that I might try next although I'm thinking that changing to a self priming diaphragm type pump is probably the best solution.


It is, and it keeps all of the electrical stuff out of the bilge water.
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Old 21-09-2017, 09:09   #44
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Re: Bilge Pump Running But Not Pumping

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No matter which submersible pump you choose, if you do a poor installation with traps in the line, don't expect it to work properly.
I'm seriously gonna take a look at what it would take to change the current hose track although it should be noted that my bilge pumps have worked properly for the 17 years I've owned the boat including the last couple of years with this pump. It appears that the current problem is related to the pump itself.
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Old 21-09-2017, 09:13   #45
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Re: Bilge Pump Running But Not Pumping

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...It appears that the current problem is related to the pump itself.
Not from here it doesn't.
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